I have said numerous times here that athletes need to be more aware of their behavior because of the prevalence of cameras, monitors, cell phones and social media. Sports media figures need to learn this lesson too.
I admit that I have never seen ESPN reporter Britt McHenry, she apparently is a Washington D.C. based reporter whose work has been on SportsCenter, Outside The Lines, NFL Live and Baseball Tonight. (It should also be noted that she is a fellow Northwestern alum like myself.)
The 28-year-old reporter has been suspended as a result of a video surfacing on the Internet showing the reporter unleashing an ugly barrage of remarks on an Arlington, Virginia, tow truck company employee. The incident appears to have occurred earlier this month after McHenry’s car was towed from a parking lot of a Chinese restaurant in town.
McHenry’ went to pick up her car and gave the tow company cashier some choice comments about her appearance, intelligence and station in life.
Here are some of the best remarks:
“I’m in the news sweetheart, I will f—–g sue this place.”
“That’s why I have a degree and you don’t.”
“That’s all you care about is taking people’s money…with no education, no skill set. Just wanted to clarify that.”
“Why? Because I have a brain and you don’t?”
“I’m on television and you’re in a f—–g trailer, honey.”
“Lose some weight, baby girl.”
McHenry apologized for the incident over Twitter on Thursday afternoon. “In an intense and stressful moment, I allowed my emotions to get the best of me and said some insulting and regrettable things. As frustrated as I was, I should always choose to be respectful and take the high road. I am so sorry for my actions and will learn from this mistake.” ESPN has suspended her for one week.
I have had the opportunity to meet many athletes, broadcasters and journalists over the years and most of them have been nice, at least civil. But there are nasty ones, and occasionally, karma does come around.
I don’t know if Ms. McHenry really will learn from this, but I suggest that she had better.

Once the NFL’s suspension of Ray Rice for knocking out his fiancée, now wife was overturned by an independent arbitrator, there was little doubt that running back Adrian Peterson’s suspension for beating his son would soon end also and this week it did. Now the only question is where will Peterson play?
Peterson is being reinstated toady and will once again be an active member of the Minnesota Vikings roster. The Vikings issued a statement yesterday: “The Minnesota Vikings have been informed by the NFL that Adrian Peterson has been reinstated. We look forward to Adrian re-joining the Vikings.” According to the NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, there will be no additional suspension for Adrian Peterson, but the arbitrator will decide in October how many game checks he loses. He could lose up to three game checks.
Last November, Peterson was suspended for the rest of the 2014 season without pay after pleading no contest to reckless assault of his four-year-old son. Peterson’ caused injuries to his son by hitting him with a “switch,” a branch from a tree. Peterson played in just one game last season before the situation came to light.
Even at 30 years of age however, Peterson remains one of the league’s premiere running backs, especially with a year in which he took no hits – he should be primed for a super season. In seven years in the league, he scored at least 10 touchdowns in every season and reached the 1,200-yard mark in all but one.
There is only one problem: Peterson no longer wants to play in Minnesota. With poor teams, coaching changes and turnover, and an owner and front office that quickly distanced itself from its star running back, Peterson is not feeling the love. Peterson’s agent, Ben Dogra reportedly said that they want out of Minnesota, but Vikings general manager Rick Spielman didn’t sound like somebody looking to make a trade back in March. “Adrian’s a member of our football team,” he said. “He’s under contract with us. We are focused on the 2015 season and expect Adrian to be a part of that. Our whole focus is getting ready for that season with Adrian.”
His reinstatement will only intensify the apparent disagreement between the sides about the best way to move forward. It seems Peterson would like a fresh start, while Minnesota doesn’t want to risk trading a top asset below market value. Peterson lives in Texas and Jerry Jones would certainly pony up big money to get Peterson, especially after losing DeMarcus Murray in free agency over the offseason.
So stay tuned Vikings and NFL fans: Adrian Peterson is going to running somewhere in the NFL this coming season. The question is: where?

Well, its official – Former New England Patriots’ star tight end Aaron Hernandez was found guilty by a jury of first degree murder, which carries a penalty of life imprisonment without the possibility of parole. Hernandez was also found guilty of unlawful possession of a firearm and unlawful possession of ammunition.
Hernandez was on trial for the shooting death of Odin Lloyd, whose body was found in a Massachusetts industrial park in June 2013, and he still faces trial on two other murders. The bystanders are the other victims: Lloyd’s family happy, hugging the prosecutors; Hernandez reportedly pursed his lips and took a deep breath, as his lawyer James Sultan put his arm around him; his mother Terri, and his fiancee, Shayanna Jenkins, crying and gasped as the verdict was read. Hernandez later mouthed to them: “Be strong. Be strong.”
This is the sad end to a turbulent career; perhaps the ultimate case of being able to take the player out of the streets, but not being able to take the streets out of the player. Hernandez made his way out of a tough upbringing through athletics, turning into a star at the University of Florida, but even then, there were stories about wild, perhaps violent, perhaps criminal activity, but not much could be proven.
As a result, the New England Patriots took a chance and drafted Hernandez, and he excelled. He caught 45 passes in 2010 and unlike many players, followed that up with an even better sophomore season – 79 catches for 910 yards. The two tight end tandem of Hernandez and Rob Gronkowski were giving defenses fits: both too big to be covered by strong safeties solo; too fast to be covered by linebackers. The Patriots knew they had a keeper, signing him to a $40 million contract after a 51 catch 2012 season.
However, the whispers of bad behavior when Lloyd was killed. Suspicion fell almost immediately on Hernandez who was seen removing his closed circuit security system and other possible incriminating evidence from his home. Eventually, Hernandez was arrested of the crime, suspended by the team and the NFL and suddenly fighting for his freedom.
As am outsider, I thought that the prosecution’s case was a tough one to win: there was no murder weapon; there were no eyewitnesses willing to testify; and the motive was vague. There was a fair amount of circumstantial evidence: the rental car used was rented to Hernandez and there was trace amounts of Lloyd’s blood in the car. There was a great deal of testimony on Hernandez’ drug use and hard partying, with Lloyd and others. Guns were a constant companion, which is never a good thing.
Still, celebrity can win out in these cases, and perhaps the defense was counting on the sports mad Boston citizens on the jury voting with their Patriots’ gear in hand. They may have regretted that decision since Hernandez’ defense team tried to throw his companions under the bus in closing arguments by admitting that Hernandez was there, but drug dealers killed Lloyd.
It didn’t work. There were reports that Hernandez was extremely cocky in front of the jury, as though he was untouchable. Perhaps that is the legacy of Aaron Hernandez: society idolizes these young men and as a result, they believe their own hype. Discretions will be covered up or victims paid off; anything to keep the money train rolling.
Perhaps that is the story of possible first pick in the upcoming NFL draft, Florida State QB Jameis Winston. Accused of sexual assault, the police bungled the case and the university protected its star player. I hope he learned something from the life of Aaron Hernandez; and others like Michael Vick, Ray Rice, and former Heisman Trophy winning running back Lawrence Phillips, who may have killed his roommate in prison this week where he is serving time.

Every story is a Hollywood movie waiting to happen, and if there’s one thing that Hollywood loves, it’s sequels. So, let’s call this movie “The First Wives Club Strikes Back,” a sequel to the Goldie Hawn, Bette Midler film mixed with Star Wars. In this case, it’s real life: this week a Los Angeles judge has ordered former Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling’s “friend”
V. Stiviano to pay back more than $2.6 million in gifts to Sterling’s wife.
In the lawsuit, Rochelle “Shelly” Sterling accused Stiviano of targeting extremely wealthy older men. She claimed Donald Sterling used the couple’s money to buy Stiviano a Ferrari, two Bentleys and a Range Rover, and that he helped her get a $1.8 million duplex. Stiviano’s attorneys countered that there was nothing wrong with Donald Sterling giving her gifts and that she never took advantage of the former Los Angeles Clippers owner, who made much of his fortune in real estate.
Of course, Stiviano was the source of the disclosure of Sterling’s racially insensitive comments toward Earvin “Magic” Johnson and African-Americans at courtside of a Clippers game a couple of years ago. The media frenzy also disclosed Sterling’s relationship with Stiviano, which did not only include the big gifts: the Los Angeles Times reported that the gift list included a $391 Easter bunny costume, a $299 two-speed blender and a $12 lace thong. (I’ll let you make up your own jokes about the lace thong and the Easter Bunny costume…)
Shelly Sterling’s attorney said that she was thrilled with the court decision. “This is a victory for the Sterling family in recovering the $2,630,000 that Donald lavished on a conniving mistress,” attorney Pierce O’Donnell told CNN affiliate KABC. “It also sets a precedent that the injured spouse can recover damages from the recipient of these ill-begotten gifts.”
The marriage is now in the process of ending after 59 years, but one still has to wonder about this weird relationship. Was Shelly willing to go along with anything until her husband’s dalliances became the gist of national reporting (much of this was well known locally in Los Angeles). Donald Sterling (originally Tokowitz) made his name first as a divorce and personal injury attorney, but made huge money in real estate, acquiring the Clippers in 1981. But it seems like Sterling let his sex organ do his thinking for him: numerous sexual harassment lawsuits were filed against Sterling along with an open history of mistresses. In addition, both Sterlings gained a reputation for being people to avoid at all costs: they reportedly wouldn’t rent to minorities, using strings of racist names for blacks and Hispanics.
And what about “poor” V (she goes by the initial only as a first name – her real name is Maria Vanessa Perez, but also known as Monica Gallegos, Vanessa Perez and Maria Valdez according to Wikipedia)? She will probably lose the house and the cars if she doesn’t appeal or win an appeal, which is most of the money. Shelly Sterling doesn’t need the money – she is the long term wife of a billionaire slum lord who lost an NBA franchise but got paid $2 billion for it (compared to the $12.5 million he paid for the team.
This is a legal cat fight, no more and no less. It’s hard to have any empathy of any of these narcissistic people.

My apologies – I’ve been so busy that the blog has been pushed out, but I’m back and I have a few points to make to catch up with what’s been happening:

• Congratulations Duke and UConn on winning the Men’s and Women’s NCAA Basketball Championships. The coaches are Hall of Famers and record holders for wins and titles; the teams were very good.
• I know that I don’t follow basketball anymore, but I find that I don’t hate Duke anymore either. They were so successful and generally their players were squeaky clean to the point of arrogance, that they were easy to hate, even though I have met and had a very nice interaction with Coach Mike Krzyzewski once in Las Vegas (the $5,000 he’d just won on video poker probably didn’t hurt…).
• That said, very nice run Wisconsin – you were a terrific team that came just short. And the Wisconsin fan base got larger when they beat previously undefeated Kentucky.
• Sure, it seems sleazy, but Krzyzewski and Kentucky Head Coach John Calipari are making the most of the “one-and-dones,” extremely talented basketball players who, due to NBA rules, cannot go directly into the league, so they play one year of college ball. But don’t play the coaches, blame the NBA; the coaches are just playing the hand they’ve been dealt.
• I think that Kentucky fans use the NCAA Tournament to dispose of furniture. They burn couches and riot when they win, and they burn couches and riot when they lose.
• When we give credit to UConn Head Coach Gene Auriemma’s incredible success, we should also pay attention to his comments that the men’s game is boring. Shortening the shot clock is a nice idea, but, having been bored with the sport for over a decade, what can be done to break up 2-man passing offenses; seemingly meaningless runs where it seems that each team takes turns with runs, and then the last 2 minutes are the only interesting parts of the game? The more basic, women’s game with the movement and crisp passing is much more interesting.

• Your friend and humble narrator is feeling his age. While I was away, I was able to see the Ducks play the Islanders in the Coliseum in one of the last games in the old barn; then two nights later attend the Kings/Blackhawks game in Chicago in one of the best efforts the Hawks have had in weeks (or since). The day after the Chicago game, I had to fly to Boston for work, and the plane landed at 5:00, and there was a 7:00 PM Bruins – Florida Panthers game and my hotel is walking distance to the Garden. But I was too tired – I watched the game on television.
• As I Hawks fan, I am concerned. Occasionally, they put in a top effort like against the Kings (a 4-1 win), but they are losing to non-playoff teams, not showing grit and focus against division foes, and scoring has been nonexistent. The team that best the Kings is a Stanley Cup contender; the team that has been playing all of the other games the past 3 weeks looks like its headed for a one round brief playoff appearance…
• I posted this question on Facebook and fans took it that I was taunting their teams, but wouldn’t it be interesting if the Kings and Bruins didn’t make the playoffs? Two of the past three Stanley Cup champions are very close to having a long spring. Speaking of that, the Detroit Red Wings are in the same boat – they could miss their first playoffs in over 20 years. While it is good to get fresh blood in the playoffs, it would be very weird without any or all of these teams…
• If the St. Louis Blues get bounced early in the playoffs this year, would they become the new San Jose Sharks?
• And the Sharks have imploded, they won’t make the playoffs with star center Joe Thornton having a war of words with GM Doug Wilson. It shows that they never did have enough heart,
• I am sending out a tentative apology to Alex Ovechkin. Last year, I blasted him for posting a 50 goal season with a -35 plus minus rating. He didn’t play defense; he was one dimensional; he was a coach killer. Well, the Caps look like they are playoff locks; Ovechkin has scored his 50 goals again, but with a +11 plus-minus; and most of all, new Coach Barry Trotz says that previous Caps coaches didn’t handle Ovechkin properly. This remains a tentative apology because I want to see how he plays in the playoffs, but he is much better than I gave him credit for…
• Boy, do the Penguins suck. They will be limping into the playoffs (if they even make it) playing very badly. Somewhere former coach Dan Bylsma is smiling.
• The end of this week is playoff hockey with lots of games played to determine who moves on and who goes home. Next week begin the Stanley Cup Playoffs, one of the best events in all of sport. Every game will be important, there won’t be any goon tactics; clean, spirited hockey. It’s gonna be awesome…

• Well, the White Sox have begun the 2015 season with two losses and the problems that sank the previous two seasons remain in evidence. Opening day, the Sox showed shoddy fielding and lost. In game two, the bullpen failed to hold a lead. Hope remains and it is a very long season, but Sox fans are pessimists – if they have a bad spring, there will be a lot of empty seats the rest of the season.
• On the North Side, hope spring eternal and the have split the first two games against the hated Cardinals. The big story remains off the playing field. The team, already in a legal battle with the rooftop bar owners, and construction delays closing the bleachers until May (left field) and June (right field) had toilet problems that caused long waits for the bathroom on Opening night. The team has added lots of port-a-potties to try and handle the issue, but the park looks like Dresden after the bombing and the team owners and senior officials look like fiddling Neros while Rome burns.
• In short, I don’t know what gods the Ricketts family pissed off, but they may be on the way to being the most hated owners since the halcyon days of “Dollar” Bill Wirtz.